[Acute epiglottitis]

Abstract

Acute epiglottitis caused by Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) is seldom described in Chile. To reinforce the need to take this severe entity into account in the differential diagnosis of acute upper respiratory tract obstructions, the case of a 9 month old girl is described, who's symptoms were initially attributed to acute laryngitis, but showed not response to racemic epinephrine and betamethasone therapy. The correct diagnosis of acute epiglottitis was suggested five hours after admission by lateral neck's radiographs and confirmed by direct laryngoscopic examination under general anesthesia. Appropriate treatment was soon instituted including tracheal intubation respiratory support and antibiotics. An uneventful clinical course proceeded from then on. Hemophilus influenzae B was isolated from blood cultures.